CHAPTER IX.
CANADA-CAPTAIN JOHN BROWN.

IN February, 1856, he removed to Chatham, Kent Country, Canada, where he continued the
practice of medicine. While his "Visiting list" gave evidence of a respectable practice, his fees
were not in proportion to it. His practice embraced a great portion of those who were refugees
from American slavery; income here did not exceed that acquired at Pittsburgh.

Here his activity found wider scope, and new fields of labor were opened to him. It was not
likely that one of such marked character would remain unrecognized. He was ever suggesting
measures tending to ameliorate the condition of one class or another, which resulted in gaining
for him an influence only resulted in gaining for him an influence only surpassed by that wielded
by him at his post of duty at the South.

Once, while in Canada, an important suggestion of his being adopted, it resulted in driving
both candidates--conservative and reformer--together, compelling them to offer
terms for the support of the black constituency.

He took part freely in all political movements in his adopted home. For several years he was
one of the

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principal canvassers in the hustings in the ridings of Kent for the election, and was one of the
executive committee, and belonged to the private caucus of A. McKellers, Esq., member of the
Provincial Parliament from Kent County.

These facts will render it conclusive that his activity was none the less in a country where the
progress of his race met no resistance, but only varied in its method. Whatever prominence here,
as elsewhere, was attained by him, was cast in the balance as an offering to his people.

Here were matured his plans for an organization for scientific purposes, which afterwards
gave him fame in other lands. Here also was he connected with the beginning of a movement in
behalf of human liberty, the most sublime in conception, and mysterious in its accomplishment,
written of in modern times. The first was in 1858, when had been completed a long contemplated
design of his--that of inaugurating a party of scientific men of color, to make explorations
in certain portions of Africa.

In the early part of May, 1859, there sailed from New York, in the bark Mendi, owned by
three colored African merchants, the first colored explorers from the United States, known as the
Niger Valley Exploring Party, at the head of which was its projector, Dr. Delany. His
observations he published on his return to this country, so that they need no repetition here,
though an important treaty formed with the king and principal chiefs of Abekuta we have noticed
in another portion of this work. It was the importance attached to this mission, and the
successful.

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accomplishment of it, that gave him prestige, rendering him eligible to membership of the
renowned International Statistical Congress of July, 1860, at London. He travelled extensively in
Africa for one year.

In April, prior to his departure for Africa, while making final completions for his tour, on
returning home from a professional visit in the country, Mrs. Delany informed him that an old
gentleman had called to see him during his absence. She described him as having a long, white
beard, very gray hair, a sad but placid countenance; in speech he was peculiarly solemn; she
added, "He looked like one of the old prophets. He would neither come in nor leave his name,
but promised to be back in two weeks' time." Unable to obtain any information concerning his
mysterious visitor, the circumstance would have probably been forgotten, had not the visitor
returned at the appointed time; and not finding him at home a second time, he left a message to
the effect that he would call again
"in four days, and must see him then."
This time the
interest in the visitor was heightened, and his call was eagerly awaited. At the expiration of that
time, while on the street, he recognized his visitor, by his wife's description, approaching him,
accompanied by another gentleman; on the latter introducing him to the former, he exclaimed,
"Not Captain John Brown, of Ossawatomie!" not thinking of the grand old hero as being east of
Kansas, especially in Canada, as the papers had been giving such contradictory accounts of him
during the winter and spring.

"I am, sir," was the replay; "and I have come to

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Chatham expressly to see your, this being my third visit on the errand. I must see you at once,
sir," he continued, with emphasis, "and that, too, in private, as I have much to do and but little
time before me. If I am to do nothing here, I want to know it at once." "Going directly to the
private parlor of a hotel near by," says Major Delany, "he at once revealed to me that he desired
to carry out a great project in his scheme of Kansas emigration, which, to be successful, must be
aided and countenanced by the influence of a general convention or council.
That
he was
unable to effect in the United States, but had been advised by distinguished friends of his and
mine, that, if he could but see me, his object could be attained at once. On my expressing
astonishment at the conclusion to which my friends and himself had arrived, with a nervous
impatience, he exclaimed, `Why should you be surprised? Sir, the people of the Northern States
are cowards; slavery has made cowards of them all. The whites are afraid of each other, and the
blacks are afraid of the whites. You can effect nothing among such people,' he added, with
decided emphasis. On assuring him if a council were all that was desired, he could readily obtain
it, he replied, 'That is all; but that is a great deal to me. It is men I want, and not money; money I
can get plentiful enough, but no men. Money can come without being seen, but men are afraid of
identification with me, though they favor my measures. They are cowards, sir! Cowards!' her
reiterated. He then fully revealed his designs. With these I found no fault, but fully favored and
aided in getting up the convention.

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"The convention, when assembled, consisted of Captain John Brown, his son Owen, eleven
or twelve of his Kansas followers, all young white men, enthusiastic and able, and probably sixty
or seventy colored men, whom I brought together.

"His plans were made known to them as soon as he was satisfied that the assemblage could
be confided in, which conclusion he was not long in finding, for with few exceptions the whole
of these were fugitive slaves, refugees in her Britannic majesty's dominion. His scheme was
nothing more than this: To make Kansas, instead of Canada, the terminus of the Underground
Railroad; instead of passing off the slave to Canada, to send him to Kansas, and there test, on the
soil of the United States territory, whether or not the right to freedom would be maintained where
no municipal power had authorized.

"He stated that he had originated a fortification so simple, that twenty men, without the aid of
teams or ordnance, could build one in a day that would defy all the artillery that could be brought
to bear against it. How it was constructed he would not reveal, and none knew it except his great
confidential officer, Kagi (the secretary), of war in his contemplated provisional government), a
young lawyer of marked talents and singular demeanor."

Major Delany stated that he had proposed, as a cover to the change in the scheme, as Canada
had always been known as the terminus of the Underground Railroad, and pursuit of the fugitive
was made in that direction, to call it the Subterranean Pass Way, where the initials would stand
S.P.W., to note

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the direction in which he had gone when not sent to Canada. He further stated that the idea of
Harper's Ferry was never mentioned, or even hinted in that convention.

Had such been intimated, it is doubtful of its being favorably regarded. Kansas, where he had
battled so valiantly for freedom, seemed the proper place for his vantage-ground, and the kind
and condition of men for whom he had fought, the men with whom to fight. Hence the favor
which the scheme met of making Kansas the terminus of the Subterranean Pass Way, and there
fortifying with these fugitives against the Border slaveholders, for personal liberty, with which
they had no right to interfere. Thus it is clearly explained that it was no design against the Union,
as the slaveholders and their straps interpreted the movement, and by this means would anticipate
their designs.

This also explains the existence of the constitution for a civil government found in the
carpet-bag among the effects of Captain Brown, after his capture in Virginia, so inexplicable to
the slaveholders, and which proved such a nightmare to Governor Wise, and caused him, as well
as many
wiser
than himself, to construe it as a contemplated overthrow of the Union. The
constitution for a provisional government owes its origin to these facts.

Major Delany says, "The whole matter had been well considered, and at first a state
government had been proposed, and in accordance a constitution prepared. This was presented to
the convention; and here a difficulty presented itself to the minds of some present, that according
to American jurisprudence,

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negroes, having no rights respected by white men, consequently could have no right to petition,
and none to sovereignty.

"Therefore it would be mere mockery to set up a claim as a fundamental right, which in itself
was null and void.

"To obviate this, and avoid the charge against them as lawless and unorganized, existing
without government, it was proposed that an independent community be established within and
under the government of the United States, but without the state sovereignty of the compact,
similar to the Cherokee nation of Indians, or the Mormons. To these last named, references were
made, as parallel cases, at the time. The necessary changes and modification were made in the
constitution, and with such it was printed.

"Captain Brown returned after a week's absence, with a printed copy of the corrected
instrument, which, perhaps was the copy found by Governor Wise."

During the time this grand old reformer of out time was preparing his plains, he often sought
Major Delany, desirous of his personal cooperation in carrying forward his work. This was not
possible for him to do, as his attention and time were directed entirely to the African Exploration
movement, which was planned prior to his meeting Captain Brown, as before stated. But as
Captain Brown desired that he should give encouragement to the plan, he consented, and became
president of the permanent organization of the Subterranean Pass way, with Mr. Isaac D. Shadd,
editor of the Provincial Freeman, as secretary.

This organization was an extensive body, holding

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the same relation to his movements as a state or national executive committee hold to its party
principles, directing their adherence to fundamental principles.

This, he says, was the plan and purpose of the Canada Convention. Whatever changed them
to Harper's Ferry was known only to Captain Brown, and perhaps to Kagi, who had the honor of
being deeper in his confidence than any one else. Mr. Osborn Anderson, one of the survivors of
that immortal band, and whose statement as one of the principal actors in that historical drama
cannot be ignored, states that none of the men knew that Harper's Ferry was the point of attack
until the order was given to march. It was Mr. Anderson whom Captain Brown delegated to
receive the sword.
*

(*) This sword was a relic of the revolutionary war,
presented by Frederick the great to General Washington, and was kept in the Washington family
until that time.
from Colonel Washington, on that night when the Rubicon of slavery was
crossed by that band of hero pioneers who confronted the slave power in its stronghold. The first
sound of John Brown's rifle, reverberating along the Shenandoah, proclaimed the birth of
Freedom. Already he saw the mighty host he invoked in Freedom's name. He heard their coming
footfalls echoing over Virginia's hills and plains, and upon every breeze that swept her valleys
was borne to him his name entwined in battle anthem. He saw in the gathering strife that either
Freedom or her priest must perish, and with a giant's strength he went forward to his high and
holy martyrdom, thereby inaugurating victory.